Scopas tang

Care at a glance

Overview

One of the more forgiving tangs and a good choice for a first tang, but its dull color is misleading: it will harass same-genus tangs like yellow and purple tangs just as hard as they harass each other, so keep only one Zebrasoma per tank unless the system is very large. Reef safe with corals when well fed, though a hungry specimen may start nipping LPS and soft corals, so keep dried algae available.

In the wild

Widespread across the Indo-Pacific, grazing algae on coral-rich and rocky reefs from shallow lagoons out to reef faces. Its muted brown to olive body blends into the reef as it browses filamentous algae all day. In the tank it wants open swimming space, brisk flow and algae-covered rock to pick at between feedings.

Good to know

Zebrasoma scopas is closely related to the yellow tang and shares its disc-shaped body and long snout, differing mainly in its brown coloration and a brush-like patch of bristles near the tail base that gives it the name scopas, meaning broom. Like all surgeonfish it carries paired caudal spines used in territorial fights.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Yellow tang

  Zebrasoma flavescens

  7.9 in (20 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)

  7.9 in (20 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Black tang

  Zebrasoma rostratum

  8.3 in (21 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)

  8.3 in (21 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Gem tang

  Zebrasoma gemmatum

  8.7 in (22 cm) · 151 gal (570 L)

  8.7 in (22 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Purple tang

  Zebrasoma xanthurum

  9.8 in (25 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)

  9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Sailfin tang

  Zebrasoma veliferum

  11.8 in (30 cm) · 145 gal (550 L)

  11.8 in (30 cm)145 gal (550 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Red Sea sailfin tang

  Zebrasoma desjardinii

  15.7 in (40 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)

  15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)